Robert w



(No Model.) R.'W. IRWIN 8v J. STILES.

` PBW.

No. 576,193. Patentedreb, 2, 1897.

Nrrnn STATES' ATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. IRVIN AND JAMES S'FILES, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO THE-GRAND RAPIDS SCHOOL FURNITURE COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

PEW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 5'7 6,193, dated February 2, l189'?.

Application ined May 21, 1896. semi No. 592,414.6. N0 model.) i

To LZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT WV. IRWIN and JAMES STILES, citizens of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pews or Similar Seats, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to the joints between the body and the end of pews or similar seats.

It is well understood that the backs and seats of pews are connected with the ends by means of a groove in which the ends of the backs and seats are snugly iitted. This construction is attended with some difficulties. In putting u p the pews it is not easy to insert the ends of the backs and seats into the grooves in the seat ends, and the diiiiculty in doing this is increased when, as is very often the case, the pews are formed upon a curve. Slight variations between the thickness of the' back or seat and the width of the grooves interfere materially, on the one hand, with the ease in putting the pews in place, and, on the other, with the stability of the pews and their freedom from creaking after they are put in place.

Our invention, which is designed to avoid these differences, consists, essentially, of a joint formed by a dovetail groove larger in width than the thickness of the end of the seat or back, combined with staypieces or wedges and in some cases with a covering-bead. It is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents the seat end formed with the groove,`the end being in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the staypieces or wedges in place. Fig. 3 represents a cross-section of the back, showing a crosssection of the groove. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the back in place and showing also sections of the wedge and bead out of place. Fig. 5 is a similar view with the parts in place.

In the drawings, Arepresen ts the groove for the back made in the end E of the seat, and A is the similar groove for the bottom or seat proper. These grooves are made of dovetail form, as shown inthe sectional views, Figs.

dovetail form, but are made with plain sides 5 5 from end to end but the purposes for which the groove is made in the shape above specified are as follows: The end of the back or seat being straight and plain, when it is inserted into the dovetail groove and brought to bear 6o against one side of the groove-the front side, for example, as shown in Fig. 5-the form of the groove allows considerable variation in the relative position of the seat end and theV back without causing the joint (shown at e) to open. The seat, in fact. whether it be swayed slightly to right or left, as seen in Fig. 5, would still have its bearing on the line indicated at e, and on that line the parts being pressed together would necessarily be when the stay-pieces c are in place, as shown in Fig. 5. The stay-pieces or wedges are inserted and driven snugly in for the purpose of holding the surface of the back or seatbottom against the edge of the groove, and instead of the pieces shown they might be made as one continuous strip, but this is not necessar f.

We have found that in the construction shown the sectional stays hold the parts in place, as above explained, and, while these parts are very easily put together and the end is very readily inserted in the groove, it is held firmly and will not squeak, as pews are very apt to do. V

Ve use for the back, where the joint would be exposed to view, a covering consisting of a bead g, which is secured bynails or in any equivalent way so as to cover the groove and stays. i f

In fitting these pews in place no difficulty occurs in causing the ends to enter the grooves, even if there bevvariations in the floor or slight twists in the bottom or back pieces, and when entered they are brought up to form close joints by the wedges or stay-pieces, notwithstanding there may be distortions, since the plain ends (we' mean ends not dovetailed) of the backs and bottom-pieces have some movement inside the bearing of the IOO edge at c. `The parts being all made and itted as above described the pews may be set up without an7 further fitting.

XVe claiml. In a pew or like seat, an end piece, havin g a dovetail groove, in combination with a seat back or bottom having" plain ends and with stay-pieces, substantially as described.

2. In a pew or like seat, an end piece having a dovetal groove, in combination with seat back or bottom having` plain ends, with stay-pieces, and a bead, all substantially as described.

3. In apew or like seat, an end piece hav- 

